Mahabharata 7.89.5 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 89, Shloka 5

धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — सैन्यप्रशंसा, भेदनवृत्तान्त-प्रश्नः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Praise of the Host and Inquiry after the Breach

Devanagari script

चरन्तस्त्वसिमार्गाश्व धरनुर्मार्गाश्न॒ शिक्षया । संग्राममनस: शूरा दृश्यन्ते सम सहस्रश:

Transliteration

carantastv asimārgāśva dhanuḥmārgāṁś ca śikṣayā | saṅgrāmamanasaḥ śūrā dṛśyante sama-sahasraśaḥ ||

Translation

Wika ni Sañjaya: “Sa paggalaw sa mga hanay na may disiplina, libu-libo at libu-libong matatapang na mandirigma—na ang isip ay lubos na nakatuon sa labanan—ay nakitang nagpapamalas, ayon sa kanilang pagsasanay, ng mga paraan at hakbang sa pakikipaglaban gamit ang tabak at sa pana. Ipinakikita ng tanawing ito hindi lamang ang kahandaan sa digmaan, kundi ang mabigat na katotohanan: ang husay at sigasig, kapag ikinabit sa digmaan, ay maaaring magpalaki ng pagwasak kung hindi pipigilin ng dharma.”

Word by Word

• चरन्तः: moving about; practicing
• चरन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त, पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• असि-मार्गान्: paths/ways of sword-fighting
• असि-मार्गान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि-मार्ग
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• धनुः-मार्गान्: paths/ways of archery
• धनुः-मार्गान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुः-मार्ग
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• शिक्षया: by training; according to instruction
• शिक्षया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिक्षा
• Form: स्त्री, तृतीया, एकवचन

• संग्राम-मनसः: battle-minded; intent on battle
• संग्राम-मनसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संग्राम-मनस्
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शूराः: heroes; warriors
• शूराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• दृश्यन्ते: are seen; appear
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथम, बहुवचन, कर्मणि (passive sense)

• समम्: together; in equal measure; all at once
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समम्

• सहस्रशः: by thousands; in thousands
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशस्

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• sword (asi)
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• battlefield/war (saṅgrāma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined training and collective martial zeal, while implicitly raising a dharmic caution: technical excellence and enthusiasm are morally neutral and become righteous or ruinous depending on the cause and restraint guiding them.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the battlefield atmosphere: innumerable warriors are actively demonstrating practiced techniques—maneuvers of sword-combat and archery—showing readiness and eagerness for the coming clash.